“Unless your villain is emotionally weak – then generally, it is the repeated, long-term or sustained experience of soul scars that leads them to wander down the path of evil. Not one off experiences.” (Sacha Black, 13 Steps to Evil)
Overview
In this exercise, you’ll develop a character study that explores how repeated experiences shape someone’s moral trajectory. Rather than focusing on a single traumatic event, you’ll examine how sustained pressures and recurring wounds gradually transform your character.
Writing Prompt
Create a character who begins in a morally neutral or positive position but gradually shifts toward darker choices over time. Your task is to write three interconnected scenes from different periods in their life, each showing a key moment in their transformation.
Scene Requirements
1. First Scene (2-3 pages)
* Show your character in their “before” state
* Introduce the first of their recurring challenges
* Establish their initial coping mechanism or response
2. Second Scene (2-3 pages)
* Set this scene 2-5 years after the first
* Demonstrate how the recurring issue has worn them down
* Show a small but significant shift in their worldview or behavior
3. Final Scene (3-4 pages)
* Set this scene several years after the second
* Reveal how accumulated experiences have fundamentally changed them
* Include a moment where they recognize but can’t stop their transformation
Technical Guidelines
* Write in third person limited perspective
* Use specific sensory details to show emotional states
* Include at least one recurring symbol or motif across all three scenes
* Focus on subtle changes rather than dramatic shifts
Elements to Consider
* Power dynamics in relationships
* Societal pressures or systemic issues
* Small compromises that lead to bigger ones
* The role of rationalization in moral decline
* How past wounds influence present choices
Questions to Answer in Your Writing
* What does your character tell themselves to justify each step?
* How do their relationships change as they change?
* What opportunities for redemption do they miss or reject?
* What parts of their former self remain?
Goals of the Exercise
* Practice developing complex character motivations
* Explore the cumulative effects of sustained pressure
* Master the art of showing gradual character transformation
* Understand how past experiences influence present choices
Remember: The most compelling characters don’t suddenly transform – they drift, one small choice at a time, until they barely recognize themselves.
Regards,
RAR
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